JANUARY 17, 2002

Raikkonen sets new track record in Valencia

KIMI RAIKKONEN continued turning blisteringly fast laps at Valencia on Thursday. The new McLaren driver set the track record, bettering teammate David Coulthard's previous record by more than half a second, with a fastest lap of 1m12.12s.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato tested for Jordan on Thursday. Fisichella was the second fastest driver on the track behind Raikkonen.

Williams and BAR each fielded three cars with Ralf Schumacher, Juan-Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene for Williams, and Olivier Panis, Jacques Villeneuve and Anthony Davidson for BAR.

Australian Mark Webber tested for the first time this year for Minardi. The 26 year-old is thought to be favored the second Minardi seat. Dutchman Christijan Albers also tested for Minardi, completing 32 laps of the Spanish circuit.

Testing will continue in Valencia on Friday with Minardi, BAR and Toyota.